Quick Access

We are now in February, and everyone should be rested up from the holiday season. So now is a good time to revisit those resolutions you made! We all know we need to eat better, exercise more, andtry to reduce our stress levels. But have you considered your spiritual health? There are many ways to increase yourspiritual health. Going to Sunday service is one way in that it helps you be part of a spiritual commu- nity. Sunday school and/or bible studies are very important as well. Time spent quietly is extremely important and one that most of us tend to put off. Five to Ten minutes a day, in the morning or night can make all the difference. Taking time to have a conversation with God and then taking the time to listen can help in all areas of your life. Listening is an area that a good portion of us don’t really do very well. Listening can be done in several ways.  Quiet time allows you to paying attention to those thoughts that come into your mind. And those thoughts could be God talking to you.  Reading God’s word. Through His word he speaks to us continually. You may read a passage once and it means one thing to you, then you read it again and it means something different. God com- municates through his word.  Writing - by spending time, let’s say five minutes, writing whatever comes to mind without editing, judging, or worrying about spelling can be a real benefit. When you go back to read it you may think “Who wrote that, I don’t remember writing that?” I’m not saying that every time you will have that type of revelation but I’ve know it to happen. Here are some Journaling Tips I read in a book called “Spiritual Reflections Journal” by Dr. Sharon T. Hinton. “If thought or worries keep interrupting your writing, turn to an empty page and start a list – there the interruptions are saved for later attention, quieting your mind so that you can concen- trate.” “If you have a major worry, take ten minutes and write specifically about that worry – what it is – how it makes you feel – what might be done about it – write nonstop whatever comes into your mind without editing. This is a great technique to clear your mind of mental and emotional distraction so that you can hear the still quiet voice of God speaking to you. Journals are where you can think through life’s problems with prayerful contemplation and find answers that might otherwise be lost. Journals are proof that God is in control.” In this troubled time in our lives and in the life of the organized church I believe there is a call to all of His children to grow in his love and to become spiritually fit. Let us all resolve in this new year to become better disciples of Christ in all aspects of our lives.

Health Ministry Programs

Every 4th Sunday Blood Pressure Clinics – The blood pressure clinics will begin again the end of February. They will be held in the Library starting shortly after the service is over. If you would like to get weighed as well, that can be done too. Sometimes it helps to have someone to be accountable to. Let’s Play Outside – On the first and third Friday we will meet at the church and then to a place to go snow shoeing, hiking, etc. During the winter we will start at 10:00 AM. Kathy will be using the Walk & Talk series to stimulate conversation as you exercise.

Caring Connection – If you would be willing to help out a church member or community member withwhat they may need, Kathy is setting up a computer based program so that you will be able to sign up to help with a need. The plan is to get this going early in March so please email Kathy or give her a note at church.So what types of needs. The biggest need is Transportation. Most of the trips would be to doc- tors, but also to laundrymats, grocery, drug store, shopping etc. Most of it is local but please let me know if you are willing to go to Concord, Lebanon, etc. Other needs could be helping clean occasionally, yard work, general home fix it items, even something like changing light bulbs and smoke detector bat- teries. Sometimes the small things can be very frustrating because you can’t get anyone to help for these small jobs.Tuesday Prayer Time – 10 AM in the Library. This is a time of sharing and praying for concerns for our church family.Visitation Program – Visitation is for everyone so please let Kathy know who you have visited in the last month. There is a folder on the desk in the library to mark off who has been visited. If you don’t see their name, please write it in along with your name so we can keep track. This is not just for the Visita- tion Team but anyone who has taken the time to check in with someone. The reason for this is so that no one falls through the cracks. Also, if you know of someone who would like to be visited, or you are concerned about someone, please let Kathy know as well. Thank you to everyone who has taken time to visit and bring Christ’s love to someone. I look forward to working with everyone in this coming year and if you have any suggestions of a pro- gram you would like to see please let me know. I’m always looking for ideas. Be sure to check the weekly bulletin and our web site for other information.Shalom,Kathy Smith, Faith Community Nurse 603-524-1330 Nursing lineE-mail: Health@NHLakesUMChurch.org